(SportsNetwork.com) - The Winnipeg Jets will try to boost their fading playoff
chances Saturday when they host the Carolina Hurricanes in an inter-conference
clash at MTS Centre.

The Jets saw their postseason hopes take a serious hit during an 0-3-3 slide
from March 4-14. Paul Maurice's club has rebounded with wins in two of its
last three games, but the Jets still sit six points out of a playoff spot with
just 11 games left on their regular-season schedule.

Winnipeg did pick up a much-needed win Wednesday night against visiting
Colorado, as Blake Wheeler scored 1:42 into overtime to deliver a 5-4 decision
for the Jets. Wheeler carried the puck from the left wing into the right
circle, waiting until a mass of bodies crowded the crease before firing a shot
past Colorado goaltender Reto Berra.

Wheeler also had two assists for the Jets, while Andrew Ladd scored twice in
the win.

"You'd like to be able to close that one out in regulation but that's not the
way it works," Wheeler said. "That's not the way it's been this year for us,
for whatever reason. We've been through a lot of highs and lows, but the thing
you can say about our group is we've stuck with it all year and we stuck with
it tonight. It's great that we got rewarded."

Eric Tangradi and Evander Kane added one goal apiece to help the Jets improve
to 17-14-6 at MTS Centre this season. Al Montoya stopped 23-of-27 shots for
the victors.

The Jets beat Colorado despite playing without defensemen Zach Bogosian and
Dustin Byfuglien and centerman Jim Slater. All three players could be back in
the lineup on Saturday.

Winnipeg posted a 2-1 road win over the Hurricanes on Feb. 4, giving the Jets
victories in eight of the past 11 games in this series. Carolina, which is 13-
17-4 on the road this season, has lost three of its last five games at MTS
Centre.

The Hurricanes are capping a three-game road trip Saturday after splitting the
first two tests, The Hurricanes beat Columbus on Tuesday before falling Friday
night in Chicago.

Carolina has lost three of four and 10 of its last 14 games and is nine points
out of a playoff spot in the East with just 12 games left on its schedule.

Jonathan Toews scored a tie-breaking short-handed goal in the third period to
help the Blackhawks edge the Hurricanes, 3-2. Alexander Semin potted both
Carolina goals, while Anton Khudobin stopped 22 shots in defeat.

"Every little mistake we make seems to catch us right now," said Carolina
coach Kirk Muller. "It's unfortunate because it's not an easy place to win."

Next up for the Hurricanes is Tuesday's home test against the New York
Islanders.